Step into their shoes. See through their eyes.

Toward the end of the Revolutionary War, between 10 and 25 percent of Washington’s army consisted of soldiers of color. For these men, the Revolutionary War was actually two wars: while the country fought for its existence, Black soldiers struggled for their own freedom. And they had to choose a side.

Reenactor Noah Lewis (left), who portrays artillerist Edward “Ned” Hector, will lead a free virtual lecture on this topic on Sunday, February 7 at 1:30 PM. The lecture portion will last for about 45 minutes, and questions will be taken from the audience after the lecture.

Lewis is a living historian and the author of Edward ‘Ned’ Hector: Revolutionary War Hero. Lewis is well known for portraying Ned Hector: a free soldier of color who served as part of an artillery crew with the state militia called Proctor’s Third Pennsylvania Artillery, which later became the Fourth Continental Artillery. Ned Hector fought at Brandywine and Germantown and notably refused to let his team, wagon, and dropped armaments fall into enemy hands during the retreat from Brandywine.

Lewis’s lecture will feature Ned Hector and other notable soldiers of color, including James Armistead Lafayette, a spy who gained direct access to the center of the British War Department by posing as a runaway slave, and the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, which became known as the “Black Regiment” following its recruitment of Black men in 1778.

Lewis will also discuss how the Marbleheaders, a regiment from Massachusetts that included sailors of color, might have provided an important stepping stone for the Christmas night crossing thanks to its earlier rescue of the Continental Army in Brooklyn Heights.

Registration for the lecture is required. 

Zoom meeting details are sent immediately after you register. If you don’t see that email within 15 minutes, please check your junk or spam folder. If you still don’t see that email with Zoom information, please contact us at info@washingtoncrossingpark.org. Don’t wait – we will have limited ability to assist you on February 7!

The Zoom platform limits us to the first 500 registrants only, but we will open a wait list if registration fills.